Where it all begins to get interesting - Research!

"Research shares much in common with dance making." (Penelope Hanstein Balancing the Systematic and the Serendipitous - 1999, 23) 

As soon as I read this extract in the reader it made smile, just because it clicked and made sense. When I am choreographing dances for students it's a case of trail and error or "research" to see which steps feel nice to dance together and what link together nicely. I don't just stick with the first thing that comes into my head as I don't just have to think about what feels nice for me to dance, but also the ability of my students. I have to know and you could say "research" into my students to ensure that I give them the best possible experience in my class I can. 

If for some reason it does not work, then you continue to develop your choreography and research to make it better and more enjoyable for your students the next time and you keep going until your students are satisfied and happy with the finished piece. 

After reading this - I plan to take this approach with my research, and I am actually looking forward to the experience and the different ways of conducting i.e books, journals observations etc. Taking segments and pieces of information for different sources and keep going until I feel satisfied I have enough and I am happy with all that I have.  

A year ago if someone had said to me "you have to go and research ...." I would have wanted to turn and run to the nearest exit. However after reading through the reader and especially being able to relate to Penelope Hanstein has re assured me that it can potentially be a new and exciting experience, and I am looking forward to discovering some information that will in time help me with my inquiry. 

Skills and Knowledge - What is it? and How do we know?

As I was reading through this section of the reader it was something that I really struggled to get my head around. I'm not sure if anyone else feels the same, but I really had to think about "What do I know?" and "How do I know it?"

 Now I know some of you may think that it sounds a daft statement and that I must already know how I know what I know (takes a while to get your head around!) but the truth is that day to day life goes on I get on with doing my job and hopefully I think doing a good one.

This also steamed a couple of  thoughts. Is this healthy to be just getting on with it and not really thinking about it? - I'm sure it's something that lots of us face from time to time but should we really just go about our jobs and professions like this - personally I don't think so. Is it something that comes in waves? or is it just natural? we have trained for many years in something that we are passionate about so is it now just second nature?  would love to hear the thoughts of others.

It has also taken me a while to get my head around Trans disciplinary and disciplinary within the work place, but I think I have cracked it. Anyway to help me do this I had to sit and do some brain storming in my journal and actually see it on paper and this really helped.

Due to working in a school I feel that I am going to have to take a more transdiciplinary approach as I am hoping to look at how the arts help students across the board not just in their arts subjects so I am going to have to research look into and reflect on other areas of learning and knowledge. This is where I think "Gibbons et al" notion of "Mode 2" will be an interesting avenue to have a look at.

 "2. Mode 2 knowledge production is transdisciplinary, which means it uses a range of theoretical perspectives and practical methodologies to solve problems" (Gibbons, 2008 online)  

Below are some images of my scribbles from my journal for you to have a look at and hopefully I will start to identify things in the work place that will benefit my professional inquiry.

SIGS and more!!

I have been a little quiet on here lately - those of you who work with children will know what I mean when I say the half term germs are brewing!!!

Anyway I have been continuing to develop thoughts and ideas and ask questions. So I have set up a SIG group on my facebook to get thoughts and idea's on general questions and ideas that I have. The people who I have included in my group are general teachers both academic and within the arts, also people who have an interest within the arts, so that I can get a generalised of initial thoughts from others.

One question I asked in my group was: "Do you think the national curriculum allows students to be creative in all aspects of their learning?" now I found the response I had to this very interesting, the academic teachers that I had in my group all said "no" they think the curriculum is too restrictive creatively. So a question that has entered my mind from this response is: If this is the case and teachers feel like this then why is it so restrictive and why has nothing been done about it?

I don't know about anyone else, but I have found my SIG group really helpful and interesting and a great way of hearing others opinions. and ideas who may not necessarily have anything to do with the arts, but have an appreciation of how helpful they can be.

On 8/10/16 I had a facebook call with Lauren Hoskins. I think Lauren will agree with me that this was extremely helpful for both myself and her. It was really interesting how we started on one topic and the more we spoke the more questions. One idea that we discusses is the matter that we think the arts may not be purposely forgotten about and put to one side but this may however be a subconscious action that happens. This maybe for one of many reasons. One being that in the grand scheme of things the arts are relatively new in the curriculum therefore people are just not used to them being available as an option especially for things such as GCSE and A level.

Another idea we discussed is that in fact it maybe pressure from school governors etc as to why maybe students appear to be encouraged to avoid the arts as an examined subject we just don't know.

However what I do know is that our chat was really helpful and is something that we are going to try keep going on a regular basis and see where each of our ideas are developing and where they are becoming focused too.

How is everyone else finding SIG groups and talking - are you finding it helpful? please also feel free to comment and discuss ideas in this post.  

Thought for the day

I saw this article this morning and thought it maybe interesting to share and would love to hear others thoughts.

http://schoolsweek.co.uk/corbyn-labour-will-give-schools-160m-arts-pupil-premium/

Happy Monday!

Questions, Questions and more Questions - 4A

Definition of Inquiry ( Sometimes seen as Enquiry)

" An act of asking for information" or " An official investigation"

 https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/enquiry


After finally being able to access the readers and being able to get started it is now sinking in that I am over half way through this program which I don't know about anyone else but I think it is both terrifying and exciting!

However upon starting to read Reader 4 and reflecting back up task 2D from module one. I am really happy and surprised with how I have progressed and how I am now able to channel my thoughts. Back in module 1 I had no Idea where to even start with inquiring. The word terrified me.

"As I embarked on this task, I actually found it extremely difficult! - I have done many drafts before actually bringing myself to write a blog post" http://laurajayne14.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/inquiring.html

However, after spending some time reading other blogs. Lois's in particular (I will add a link in the bottom of this post) and having summer to take some time to think in my own time questions have started to emerge in my head over time, but before I share those with you I have found reading about Peter Senge really interesting! 

I would like research more about his " 5 disciplines that he sees as being critical to learning"
1) Systems Thinking
2) Personal Mastery
3) Mental Models 
4) Building Shared Vision 
5) Team Learning 

www.infed.org/thinkers/senge.htm 

I think these disciplines may be quite interesting to see if they link in with the current education system and see if there are any comparisons to be made or indeed if there is a gap where the ideas could maybe be introduced to aid learning, not just in the art but across the board. 

Anyway back to a few questions that have crossed my mind; 

* Does dance and movement help with the over development of children? (socially, mentally and academically) 

* Are "The Arts" present one way or another across all areas of the national curriculum?  should they be used more in lessons such as Maths and Science? 

* Should dance and movement be made compulsory for primary education and not just taught for a few lessons a year in Physical Education time? 

* Is there enough creativity being used throughout the national curriculum in both Primary and Secondary education? 

* Are The Arts being "put to one side" in the education system? 

I would love thoughts and feedback on the start of these topics. 

And finally 

The link to Lois's blog -http://lois-mayhunt.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/module-2-4a.html 

New term, New module, New challenges

After yesterday's brief (well for myself anyway) orientation skype, It is now sinking in that the new module is soon going to be well underway and in full flow again, and quite honestly I'm looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.

In yesterday's skype it was lovely to have a mix of both module two and three. It was nice to hear about what everyone was up to and also so inspirational to hear about everyone's busy schedules alongside doing a degree! 

It was comforting to hear from the module three's especially about how they have coped with work load and normal work, and by trying to stick to certain days to do a block of work so you don't get that feeling of slipping further and further behind.  

It was also helpful to hear how the module three's have now managed to focus their inquiry and I was really panicking about not knowing right now where I want my focus to be, but after listening to Paula and speaking with the others I have now realised that this is okay.

Before I had to go back to teaching I explained to the group how I find that jotting down bullet points at the end of each day and then forgetting about it until I sit down for solid working time (usually on a Saturday afternoon) this is when I reflect on the week in detail and this is how it works for me. However I did not get into this habit until nearing the end of module one but is something that I am wanting to stick too as it did work for me really well.

I am looking forward to sticking my teeth into this module and also looking forward to reading and seeing what others on the module are focusing, as I can imagine despite all being part of "The Arts" there will be much variation on the topics of focus.

I can also imagine that this module is going to throw some challenges at me,but I am looking forward to these and to the challenges that other people face and finding ways of resolving them to progress on to the final module.

Finally despite my presence being short at Saturday's skype, it was extremely helpful and really useful .... even just remembering how to use skype!! (technology hey ;) ) 

All Good Intentions - Summer Is Over

I feel like I have been away from blogging for months but on the other hand my summer has FLOWN! by - does anyone else feel the same?

Now over my summer baring in mind I have had two months off I did promise myself with "good intentions" that I would do some research and reading in my own time leisurely to prepare myself for module two. I can assure you I ended up doing nothing! - the intention was there though.

In the past this is something that I would have let really bother me and I would have beaten myself up about but, this time I took a step back. Despite not doing any "official reading/study" I have been learning all the time. keeping a journal not necessarily to critic and reflect on my work, but to record all my positive experience and have a memoir of my summer, and some of these I can take forward with me in my work. I'll give you an example. I ended up doing some cover work for a friend who teaches pre school dance which I have not taught for quite a while, upon record and reflection of my day I realised that I actually missed teaching this age group really enjoy it and find it extremely rewarding.  

On to a change of topic - back to work! Don't get me wrong I LOVE my job and find it both challenging and extremely rewarding, however I did have the back to work nerves. Change of setting being away from home after having a settled two months to go back to doing boarding. Change of routine, going back to seeing my better half once a week. All things that summer had allowed me to place at the back of my mind, and I think I am right in saying that it is a common feeling shared between many. Would love you hear what others think?

However I have now been back just over two weeks and can honestly say I am so excited and a little nervous for this first term and all the events and challenges ahead, oh and along with tackling module two! ...... (anyone else feeling the same?!)